Expansible croquignole curler



Sept. 10, 1940. R. MCCORMICK 2,214,233

EXPANSIBLE CROQUIGNOLE CURLER Filed June 20. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 10, 1940. R. McCORMICK 2,214,233

EXPANSIBLE CROQUIGNOLE CURLER Filed June 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 10, 194% UNITE STATES ZZ'ittE 12 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a Croquignole hair curler of the expansible type and more particularly to the construction and operation of the same. The present invention is utilized in 5 connection with permanent waves in the making of which it is essential that strands or looks of hair wound upon the curler and then drawn as tightly as possible, as the success of the permanent wave depends largely upon the degree of stretching to which the hair is subjected while wound about the curler for treatment.

The curler of the present invention accomplishes tightening of the hair' wound about it without imposing any pull upon the roots of the hair thus eliminating discomfort to the user normally attendant upon uses of devices of this general type. One object of the invention is to provide a Croquignole curler in the form of a segmental pin about which the hair is wound, and so constructed as to be expansible uniformly throughout its length, to stretch the wound hair and to expose the inner strands of the wound hair to heat without danger of burning the hair.

A further object of the invention is to provide method of hair curling which contemplates the formation of a coil of hair which is then stretched without pulling the hair at the roots, and applying heat or steam to the stretched hair so as to set the curl, stretching of the curled 30 hair admitting heat to the interior of the curl and to the ends of the strands so curled.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device capable of quick application, the cooperating parts thereof working smoothly together and being free from play.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device capable of imparting an uniform and even undulation of wave and one that provides an even tightening of the hair so that the several strands are all stretched to a like degree. It is well known that in the conventional type of curler the last wave only is tight or fully stretched while the others are stretched but to a lesser degree.

A further object is to provide a curler that tightens or stretches from the inside outwardly or outwardly from the pin and that goes toward and not away from the scalp. A further object is to provide a ventilated curler always cool in use and one so assembled that the application of steam serves to create heat but moderately.

A still further object is to provide an expansible roquignole curler readily or almost instantly adjustable to any size desired; that is positive and efficient in use, durable, inexpensive to manufacure and that may be readily used by the inexperienced as well as by the experienced or professional hair dresser.

The foregoing, other, and further objects of the invention will beapparent from the following description, accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Broadly speakingthe curler of the present invention contemplates a pin, or what is herein termed a pin, made of segmental portions which together constitutes the pin body. The pin is circular in cross section and concave in side elevation, so that the diameter of the central portion of the pin is less than the diameter of the end portions. Irremovably associated with the segmental portions are means for expanding and contracting the same and the pin is provided with means for actuating the expanding and contracting means in use.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two embodiments of the present invention and the views thereof are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the pin of one form of the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central sectional view through Fig. 1 expanded.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation through a preferred form of pinforming part of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the relatively adjustable parts in elevation, expanded.

Fig. 5 is a view of the curler in end elevation illustrating its application to the hair of the user, the dotted lines denoting the expanded position.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 4 showing strands of hair Wound upon the; pin, extended.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 4 illustrating the spindle and travelling cams employed.

Fig. 8 is a View of the spindle alone.

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross sectional View, enlarged, of Fig. 3 on the line 9-9.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view through Fig. 3 on the line lill 8 thereof.

Fig. 11 is a View, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the travelling block.

Fig. 12 is an end view of Fig. 8 enlarged.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through Fig. 7, enlarged, the spindle being shown in elevation.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout.

The pin of the present invention is adapted for use with a base or spacer member which is applied to the head of the user and which removably carries the pin. This base or spacer member forms no part of the present invention.

In Figs. 5 and 6 the application of the pin is illustrated, mounted on a base member, as applied to the head of the user and with the hair wound about the pin. The base member chosen for illustration, comprises the tubular members i and 2 connected together at one end in pivotal relations in endwise alignment.

tion, so that the tubes may be separated for receiving between them strands of hair and for removing the strands of hair after curling, and with the opposite ends adapted to be connected together by a suitable clamp such as a cam member 3 arranged upon the base and cooperating to hold together the separable: ends of the tubes and covers of elastic rubber-like material 4 and 5 respectively. The tubes and covers are so designed that when the tubes are brought together the adjacent surfaces of the covers contact and hold between them the strands of hair 6.

The base member is applied to the head of the user with strands of hair 6 between the tubes I and 2 and with the base resting against the head. The covers t and 5 of the tubes l and 2 serve to clamp the strands of hair between them so that as the hair is subsequently rolled it will not be pulled at the roots.

The clamping of the tubes i and 2 against the strands of hair at the base thereof, that is with the base against the head of the user, secures the base member in position. The pin is removed from the base, the hair strands combed and then the ends of the strands applied to the concave portion of the periphery of the pin and clamped by the usual swinging clamp member pivotally mounted to the pin in a well known manner, though not here shown. The strand 6 is then wound about the pin and about the clamp whereon the tips of the hair are secured upon the pin to prevent unwinding, as pressure is applied. The strands of the hair 6 outwardly of the base are then wound about the pin until the pin is Wound down toward the base whereupon the pin is applied to the supports in the base structure provided for receiving the pin. The pin is then applied to the base and appears as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The pin, in both forms of the present invention, includes two segmental portions 1, 8. The pin is constructed by turning a bar in a suitable machine to provide the concave contour of the exterior, and it is then cut axially to form the two segmental portions. The interiors of these segmental portions are then grooved at 9 at each end of each portion, lengthwise of the portions. Each groove extends substantially one-quarter the length of a segmental portion and each groove is arcuate in cross section, shoulders Ill being formed along the lateral edges thereof coextensive with the grooves. The ends of each segmental portion l, 8 are provided with extensions ii and 12 which extensions, in effect, constitute lugs.

A cap member i3 is applied upon the ends of the extensions l l, H2 at one end of the segments, said extensions being formed with a groove Ila and thickened side walls that ride against pins i4, 15 which are driven through perforations in the cap 3 for the purpose of connecting the cap to the segmental portions 1, 8 and for guiding these portions in their movements. The pins i l, l5 also serve to maintain the segmental por- The cap is supplied with a polygonal extension l6 for interfitting engagement with a suitable support on the base or spacer member forming a clutch to provide a conventional form of tightening for the spindle.

At the opposite end of the pin a cap I! is provided and in like manner connects the extensions or lugs ll, i2 at this end of the segmental portions. These lugs ll, l2 are provided with opposed grooves and receive pins l8, l9 driven through perforations in the cap H for guiding The tubes l and 2 are provided with.

the lugs during movement of the segments. The cap I! is provided with a boss which terminates in an abutment disc 2i preferably knurled.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, for the purpose of expanding and contracting the segmental portions 7, 8 wedge members 22, 23 are provided, each of which is centrally apertured and each aperture threaded. The wedges are formed or provided with head portions which ride in the grooves 9 formed in the interior surfaces of the segmental portions. In this manner the wedges and segmental portions are connected together, whereby the wedges, when moved in one direction expand the segmental portions and when moved in the opposite direction retract the segmental portions. The wedges 22, 23 are moved by means of a spindle 24 having formed upon it, for a portion of its length, a right hand thread 25; and upon another portion thereof a left hand thread 26. The right hand thread 25 is shown as in engagement with the wedge 23 and the left hand thread is shown in engagement with the wedge 22. One end of the spindle 24 extends through the cap l3 and through the extension IS thereof while the opposite end extends through the cap ll, boss 20 and abutment disc 2i and slightly therebeyond and is provided terminally with the knurled hand wheel 21 used for rotating the spindle.

Referring now to all figures of the drawings except Figs. 1 and 2, for the purpose of expanding and contracting the segmental portions 1, 8 segmental wedge members are provided, one wedge member consisting of the portions 28, 29, 30, the portions 28, 39 being of counterpart formation and each cam shaped and formed with a head 3! for snug fitting sliding engagement with the grooved portions 9, 9 of the segmental portions 7, 8, this snug engagement preventing wedge play, each wedge portion 28 and 36 having one flat face formed with large or coarse threads 32 upon its under surface, said threads being disposed in the track of a spiral of a predetermined pitch.

The threads 32 of the wedge portions 28, are left hand threads or grooves. The said wedge portions 28, 30 are received upon the elongated hollow block portions 29, each perfectly square in cross section with one end thickened very slightly to provide for interior left hand threads 35 that extend inwardly but a short distance. Spaced inwardly from the inner termination of the threads 35 are the slots 36 formed in all sides of the block and disposed in the track of a spiral of the same pitch as that in which the threads or grooves 32 of the cam shaped portions 28, 38 are disposed. A second wedge member consisting of the portions 31, 38, 39 is provided and it is similar to the wedge members 28, 29, 22 except that it is formed with right hand grooves E-il in its fiat faces that are disposed in the track of a spiral of predetermined pitch, the pitch of said grooves 49 being identical with that of the grooves 32. The portion 38 of this wedge member is similar to the corresponding member 29, that is, it is of hollow construction, perfectly square in cross section and formed with one slightly thickened end which is threaded at 40c interiorly for a short distance, these threads however being right hand threads. The sides of this block are formed with slots 4| disposed in the track of a spiral of the same pitch as that of the slots 36 except that it is a right hand spiral. Each of the blocks 29 and 3,8 are formed along the faces engaged by the cams with longitudinally extending mortises for engagement by the tenons 42 of the cams in such manner that the cams cannot move outwardly from the blocks but can slide smoothly thereupon thus avoiding the possibility of play between said members or of the cams dropping away from the blocks as the curler is expanded. The blocks 29, 38 are actuated by a spindle .3 having formed upon it, for a portion of its length, a left hand thread it for engagement with the interior threads 35 of the block 29; and upon another portion thereof with a right hand thread for engagement with the interior threads 353a of the block 38. The interior threads of the said blocks extend inwardly but a short distance from one end and the block wall at the threaded ends is thickened slightly so that the threaded ends of the spindle will pass freely through the non-threaded portions of said blocks into engagement with threaded portions thereof, thus facilitating assembly.

The spindle 43 is formed with a right hand male spiral thread it of but substantially one convolution and of the same pitch as that of the slots 36 and disposed inwardly upon the spindle from the threads 35 thereof so that a suitable nonthreaded spindle portion is provided between the spiral 46 and the threads 45. A left hand male spiral thread ll? of but substantially one convolution and of the same pitch as the thread i6 is also arranged upon the spindle 43 in spaced relation to the left hand threads 3% thereof. In assembly the non-threaded ends of the blocks 29, 38 are introduced first upon the threaded ends of the spindle 33 which passes freely through the blocks until the interiorly threaded block portions engage the spindle threads. The coarse spiral is now at the non-threaded end of a block and rotation of the spindle will cause the male spiral threads to extend through the slots in the sides of the block and when passing through those slots in the block sides that are engaged by the earns the said spiral threads will engage with the cam grooves and move said cams at a common speed which speed is materially greater than that of the slow travelling block, due to the relatively great pitch of the spiral threads over the end threads of the spindle.

Each spindle ill is mounted in the segments 1, 3 and operated as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A hand wheel 2'? thereupon serves to rotate the spindle 53. This will cause the blocks 38, 29 to travel toward each other when the spindle is rotated in one direction and to travel away from each other when the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction. The pitch of the threads 45, 48a and of the threads id, 35 being slight the blocks 38 and 29 will move slowly but the engagement of the male threads it, 37, through slots 4 I 36 of the blocks, with the female spiral threads 32, 48 of the cams will cause the cams of each block to ride in unison upon their blocks but at much greater speed than said blocks. But a slight turn of the hand wheel 2? will cause a full movement of the cams upon their blocks, that is a move from one end of the block to the opposite end, resulting in the wide separation of the segments l, 8 in Fig. 4 and a reverse movement of said hand wheel will cause complete collapse or closing of said segments as shown in Fig. 3.

The manner in which the spindle i3 is connected to the segments i, 8 by the blocks and cams prevents play of the segments in their open or part open positions. When it is desired to utilize either pin of the present invention for making a permanent wave, the base structure is applied against the head of the user with the covers 4 and 5 clamped against the strands 6 of the hair. The pin is removed fromthe base,- the strand is combed and then wound about the pin with the tips of the hair secured by the clamp (not shown) to the body of the pin. The operator holds the pin by the hand wheel 2'! and winds the hair about the pin until the pin has been wound substantially against the seat. The pin is then applied to the base structure in a well known manner. The pin is then turned to draw the hair uniformly thereabout. The hand wheel is then actuated to turn the spindle to cause the wedges or cams to move toward each other and thus expand the segmental portions 5, 8 to or in the direction of the position shown in Fig. 4. It will be observed that the stretching or tightening of the hair, by this expansion, accomplishes this purpose without any pull whatsoever upon the roots of the hair. The spindle is rotated until the segmental portions 1, 8 are separated to a point where the hair is thought to be sufiiciently stretched or taut for the next step in the curling operation.

Next, a pad, which has been dampened with suitable fluid, is applied over the taut hair on the pin. A heater is now applied over the pad and the hair so stretched upon the pin. The presence of the heat vaporizes the fluid in the pad and the vapor or steam so created is directed against the hair. Separation of the segmental portions thus admits heat and steam to the interior of the hair wound upon the pin, resulting in the subjection of the tips of the hair to the heat and to the steam with the result that the proper curl is given, without dryness. Furthermore it has been found that, in using a pin such as either shown in the present invention, the stretching of hair may be subjected to heat without any danger whatsoever of burning any part of tlie hair and especially burning the tips, as the separation of segments 7!, 8 aids in dissipating the heat and allows circulation.

The wedges maintain the segmental portions in expanded position for as long a time as the operator deems necessary to secure a permanent set of the wound hair. The hand wheel is then rotated in the opposite direction to cause the wedges to move away from each other to posi tively return the segmental portions to normal or retracted position, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The pin is then removed from the base member and the curled hair unwound from it. The pins of the present invention are so mounted upon the base or spacing member as to be what is herein termed parallel to the head. The stretching is in a direction normal or perpendicular to the head. When a Croquignole curl is made by the use of a solid pin, experience has shown that, in order to wind the hair tightly enough on the pin to secure a permanent wave the hair may be pulled at the roots, thus causing discomfort. Tight winding of the hair about a solid pin pulls the hair at the roots with a resulting lift of the scalp. When heat is then applied to these portions it causes pull burn. The present pin is adapted for use upon a spacer of either the well known ratchet or clutch type. When the hair is wound upon the pin, as shown in Fig. 6, the strands may be uniformly stretched by turning the hand wheel 21 in a clockwise direction. When the pin is turned down into its seat as previously described the meeting edges of the pin segments may be disposed horizontally, vertically or at any angle. Regardless of this angle the hand wheel may be rotated to instantly and uniformly stretch the strands of hair, this being due to the expanding movement of the pin segments. Rotation of the hand wheel in an anti-clockvlse direction will relieve this stretching pressure to permit pin removal.

What is claimed is:

l. A hair curling pin of concave shape in elevation, said pin including segmental portions which together constitute the pin body, means including oppositely travelling wedges for directly and uniformly spreading said segmental portions radially from the pin axis when the hair is wound thereupon, said means also serving to move said segmental portions uniformly from spread position to retracted position in directions toward the pin axis, and means for actuating said first named means to spread and retract said segmental portions.

2. A hair curling device including a base member adapted to be placed against a persons head,

a segmental pin supported upon said base, said pin being adapted to be removed from said base to have hair wound thereabout and placed on said base with the meeting edges of said pin segments disposed at any angle to the horizon, and means including oppositely moving travelling wedges for expanding said pin sections so as to stretch the hair thereabout uniformly, said means serving also to retract said pin segments to permit release of the hair.

3. An article of manufacture including a hair curling pin formed of segmental parts, two oppositely inclined wedges axially movable against said parts to expand and retract same uniformly with respect to the pin sections, a spindle having right and left hand threads on it in threaded engagement with said wedges for moving the same, and means for rotating said spindle.

l. A hair curling device including an expansible member of concave shape in elevation, said member being composed of axially divided segmental portions about which strands of hair may be wound, and means including two oppositely moving travelling wedges permanently connected with said segmental portions for expanding the same to stretch the wound strands of hair uniformly, said expanding means releasably maintaining said segmental portions in expanded relation.

5. A hair curling device including an expansible member, said member consisting of axially divided segmental portions about which strands of hair may be wound, a plurality of wedge means permanently connected with said segmental portions for expanding the same uniformly to stretch the wound strands of hair, said wedge means releasably maintaining said segmental portions in expanded relation, and travelling actuating means for said wedge means.

6. A hair curling device including an expansible member, said member consisting of axially divided segmental portions about which strands of hair may be wound, said segmental portions being formed with arcuate grooves, shoulders 00- extensive with said grooves, two oppositely moving wedges having head portions snugly and slidably engaging said grooves and shoulders.

'7. A hair curling device including an expansible member, said member consisting of axially divided segmental portions about which strands of hair may be wound, a spindle having right hand threads at one end and left hand threads at the opposite end, a coarse male spiral thread at each end of said spindle in spaced relation to the threads thereof, travelling blocks square in cross section mounted to said spindle and threaded terminally interiorly for operative engagement with the like threads of said spindle, said blocks being formed also with interior spiral portions having slotted portions of the same pitch as said male spiral threads for cooperation therewith, said blocks being mortised longitudinally exteriorly, and cams connecting said blocks and the segmental portions of said expansible memher, said cams being formed with spiral grooves of the same pitch as said male spiral threads for cooperation therewith.

8. An article of manufacture including a hair curling pin formed of segmental parts, two oppositely inclined wedges axially movable against said parts to expand and retract same uniformly with respect to the pin sections, said segmental parts and said wedges being in snug fitting adjustable engagement with each other, a spindle having right and left hand threads on it in engagement with said wedges for moving the same, and means for rotating said spindle.

9. An article of manufacture consisting of a device for curling and stretching the hair, said device including a sectional pin, a spindle in said pin, said spindle being formed with right and left hand threads at its ends and with right and left hand spiral threads spaced therefrom, the pitch of said spiral threads being materially greater than that of said end threads, travelling blocks arranged upon the terminally threaded portions of said spindle and threaded interiorly for engagement with the end threads thereof and slotted to provide clearance for said spiral threads, wedge members slidably arranged upon said blocks and slidably engaging said pin sections, said wedge members being threaded for engagement with said spiral threads, and actuating means for said spindle.

10. A hair curling pin consisting of segmental body portions, a spindle extending axially through said pin, said spindle having right and left hand threads on it, wedge members in engagement with said spindle, said wedge members being movable along said segmental portions, the rotation of said spindle in one direction causing movement of said wedge members toward each other in said segmental portions to spread said portions and rotation of the spindle in the reverse direction causing movement of said wedge mem bers away from each other to retract said segmental portions, the movements of said segmental portions in the manner stated being in directions perpendicular to the spindle axis.

11. An article of manufacture comprising a hair curling pin formed of segmental parts, two oppositely inclined wedges axially movable against said parts to expand and retract the same with respect to the pin sections, a spindle having right and left hand threads on it in threaded engagement with said wedges for moving said wedges, and means for rotating said spindle.

12. An article of manufacture comprising a device for curling the hair, said device including a segmental pin of concave shape in elevation, and means for uniformly spreading and contracting said pin segments with the hair wound thereupon in superimposed layers, said means including oppositely moving wedge members connecting said segments.

REMIBE MCCORMICK. 

